Elliott wins Pocono ARCA race

Dawsonville's Chase Elliott continued to make racing history when he became the youngest superspeedway driver to take the checkered flag in an ARCA Series race at Pocono on Saturday.

"It was a really good day for us," Elliott said. "Everybody did their job really well. Lance [McGrew, crew chief] called a good race, the pit stops were good. It was a mistake-free day. I'm happy everything worked out."

Driving the No. 9 Aaron's Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, the 17-year-old started 33rd after qualifying was rained out and teams lined up based on owner points.

By the second lap, he was racing for 12th and continued to charge to the front with an obviously fast car that had no trouble passing during the 80-lap race.

He led the last 21 laps of the race to take home his first ARCA series victory of the 2013 season.

"We got a really great restart there at the end and were able to get the track position to lead. I'm thankful to have Aaron's on our team. We wouldn't be here without them and that means a ton to me, my family and my whole team," he said.

The son of 1998 Winston Cup Champion Bill Elliott, Chase Elliott is splitting the 2013 season by driving in both the ARCA and NASCAR's Camping World Truck series.

Saturday's victory at Pocono Raceway was his first in the ARCA Series.

He recorded his highest truck series finish, fourth-place on the Monster Mile at Dover International Speedway in Delaware May 31, in just his third start.

The fourth-place finish follows his fifth-place ending April 14 at Rockingham and a sixth-place run at Martinsville during his national racing debut a week before.

His early success, coupled with his popular and well-respected last name in the racing industry, continues to place the young driver in a noticeable spotlight.

On Friday, Elliott was among 13 young drivers announced as part of the 2013 NASCAR Next class, which highlights the next wave of young talent set to make an impact on the national series scene as selected by a voting panel of industry leaders.